Arsene Wenger has claimed that Cesc Fabregas wanted a return to Arsenal before joining Chelsea and explained why he turned down the opportunity to re-sign the midfielder.

Fabregas spent eight years with Arsenal and made over 300 appearances for the North Londoners before returning to boyhood club Barcelona in the summer of 2011.

His time back at the Nou Camp didn’t go according to plan and many assumed he’d make an emotional return to the Emirates after he asked to leave the Catalan giants this summer.

However, despite having first option to re-sign the playmaker, Arsene Wenger turned down the opportunity to work with his former captain again which paved the way for Fabregas to make a sensational switch to Chelsea.

Many Arsenal fans feel aggrieved that Fabregas chose to join their London rivals, but speaking at his press conference this morning ahead of Sunday’s big clash at Stamford Bridge, Wenger claimed that the 27-year-old’s preferred option was to return to the Emirates.

When pressed on why he turned down the chance to re-sign the Spaniard, the Gunners boss hinted that it was Fabregas’s decision to leave the club in 2011 and Arsenal had since brought in players like Mesut Ozil, so they didn’t need to sign any more attacking players this summer.

Asked if Fàbregas wanted to return to Arsenal, Wenger said:

“Certainly, yes. I don’t want to make a big story of that because you have to accept that. I personally believe that deal was done a long time ago, early 2014, and all the other speculation is just made up.

“I didn’t speak to him directly. I was informed that he might go to Chelsea. Everybody has the freedom to go where he wants. When he left [for Barcelona] we bought [Mesut] Özil. We were not in need of offensive players.” Wenger told the Guardian

It will be interesting to see what type of reception Fabregas gets from the travelling support on Sunday but Wenger believes there is still plenty of respect for their former skipper at the club and urged fans to give him the reception he deserves after eight years of loyal service.

Fabregas revealed last week that he has not heard from Wenger since he joined Chelsea but the Frenchman also insisted he has no feelings of animosity against the midfielder and claims he is still a player he ‘loves’. He continued:

“Cesc Fàbregas, when he looks back at his career, he will find that Arsenal and myself had a very positive influence on his career. I have no personal animosity against Fàbregas. He is a person I love and a player I love. [He deserves a] respectful welcome. Everybody respects Cesc here and I want him to get the welcome he deserves.”

Arsenal travel to Stamford Bridge on Sunday keen to avoid a repeat of last years 6-0 humiliation and another loss could put them out of the title race as they are already six points off Jose Mourinho’s league leaders.

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